Field Artillery Debut

*Clang* *Clang* *Clang*

The unpleasant sound of the metallic tools hitting each other echoed throughout the campsite. It signalled the beginning of the new day. Hearing such disturbing sounds, the soldiers start to wake up one after another.

As the soldiers came out of their tents, the camp became increasingly noisy replacing the silence that enveloped the night before. The soldiers start preparing their breakfast. Bread, salted fish, dried meat and boiled water are some of the foods they eat to fill their empty stomach. They need a lot of energy for today as it will determine their survival.

While the soldiers are eating, Richard and William are discussing in the tent. Richard forced himself to eat even though he doesn't have any appetite.

"Should we head to Manfura City, milord? They probably have already controlled most of the area near it and set up some traps for us."

"That most likely happened. We should change the battlefield and force them away from the city." Richard said while tapping his finger at a certain spot on the map. "Let's go to this area."

"It's located in the middle between the city and the lake. Would they really abandon their advantages and move there?"

Richard explains, "Oh, they definitely will, especially that brat, Niall. He has an inferiority complex toward his little brother. He is hungry to prove himself to the nobles. This is his chance to make some achievements."

After finishing their breakfast, the Ryntum forces gathered in a column of twenty. 2,000 cavalry with one hundred rows at the front, 4,000 infantry at the middle with two hundred rows and 2,000 archers with one hundred rows at the back. Five field canons are located on each side. They marched with the Ryntum flag fluttering majestically in the air.

By noon, they arrive at their destination. The place is empty because the enemy expects them to come all the way to their location. Richard took some leisure time setting up his army. He set up the field cannons on a rather higher elevated ground, protected by a group of archers.

Once everything is set up, they only need to wait for the enemy to come.

....

"My feet hurt." one of the infantry soldiers groaned. He passed his spear to the person next to him, "Please hold for me for a moment." He tried to reduce the pain and discomfort by moving his ankle in a circular motion. "Where are they? It has been two hours. How come they haven't arrived yet?" He complained before asking in a joking manner, "Maybe they got scared and ran away?"

"Stop bullshitting. We all know they have more people than us. I just hope I can return home alive." The person next to him said before passing back the spear to him. He only wears padded armour and brings one sword with him.

Although they are the same part as Ryntum standing soldiers, their equipment is not standardized at all. Each of them brought their own weapon and armour from home, not much different from the conscript in terms of appearance. Fortunately, the advantages of becoming a soldier is that they are paid a wage every month while the conscript returns to farming once the war is over.

Their job as a soldier is to undergo training every day and fight the war when the time comes. Some of them have begun their basic education. It can be said that their chance of survival in war is higher than the conscript.

This change is thanks to the young lord. It gives an opportunity for the son of the farmer to have a respectable job.

"The enemies are here!!" Someone at the front line shouted, causing all the soldiers to tense up. They can clearly see the enemy lining up in front of them. The sea of people with shining armour and equipment far exceeds their own.

"Alright, everyone. Pay attention!! Only move when you are given the order. Artillery, get ready!!" William shouted. "To think that the king even sent a royal army..." He muttered in a low voice, not wanting to affect the morale of the troops.

Duan as the head artillerist begins giving a command to the artillerist to load the cannons.

They didn't wait for too long before the enemy marched toward them.

"Come on, come closer...closer...closer," Duan muttered. He wants to hit as many cavalry as possible. The soldiers are getting nervous as there is still no order from William.

As soon as the enemy's cavalry were within cannon's range, Duan shouted. "SHOOT!"

The thunderous sound fills the entire battlefield, shocking both enemies and allies. The horses' screams can be heard from one kilometre away, trying to escape from the battlefield. The knights above were thrown off as the horse was jumping around. The horses crash into one another, stepping on their own rider. They are already beyond control as fear has befall them too.

The Ryntum soldiers on the frontline see the horrific scene that is happening in front of them.

The limbs are torn apart, bodies are shredded and blood splashes on the ground. The courage of knights was tossed aside. Even the royal army which is famous for its bravery is running away. In a matter of minutes, the nightmare took most of the knights' lives. The lifeless body was scattered on the ground with an expression of disbelief.

Not long after the hellish rain, the pungent smells of the dead bodies assault their nose. A smell that causes everyone there to feel nauseous and almost throw up.

"Wh-What is that thing?" Niall asked Philip beside him. This is his first time seeing such a dreadful weapon.

"I-I don't know Your Highness." Philip gulp. This is beyond his comprehension. The remaining knights freeze in fear, perhaps they are wondering how lucky they are to be assigned as the prince's bodyguards.

"CHARGE!!" William shouts. He takes a chance to attack since the enemy is still shocked by the destructive power of the cannon.

"WO-WOAAAHH!!!" The soldiers shouted despite still being in a state of shock. The cavalry charges forward followed by the infantry. Their morale is at an all-time high especially when the enemy is facing their back toward them. The lifeless corpse was stepped on without care or respect. It is only considered as a foot pad that helps protect their shoes from being stained with blood.

"Re-Retreat!! Philip gives an order.

"Who gives you permission to issue an order!? We can still win with our number." Niall objected to Philip's decision. Niall unsheathed his sword. He commanded the soldiers with threats, "Charge! Charge! Don't run! I will kill those who run away!"

The contradiction in order has confused the soldiers. Some halt their movement, afraid of the punishment from the noble while some keep running away. It cause them to bump into each other which makes their movements become more limited and chaotic.

Philip can only watch. It is not his place to argue with the prince. He speaks in his mind, 'Let him do as he likes. We already lost this battle.'

He wasn't afraid of the prince shifting the blame to him. Everybody knows that Niall is incompetent so no one will believe him anyway.

Philip stares blankly at the battlefield, their soldiers have been slaughtered left and right. The sound of Ryntum's new weapon continued to echo across the battlefield. Each of those shots caused tens of lives. He closes his eyes for a moment as he couldn't bear looking at the scene unfolding in front of him. "Your Highness, we should retreat to Mezorin first. We have already lost."

Niall gritted his teeth in anger. His first military debut was ruined. He didn't want to but staying here any further will endanger him as well. Therefore, he decided to lower his ego and follow Philip's suggestion. "Fine, let's retreat."